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Updated: East Mids Airport - now open

March 24, 2013, 6:28 am
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EAST Midlands Airport is now open. Despite heavy overnight snowfall which forced the airport to close this morning and six flights to be cancelled, the runways were declared open 1pm. There have been six flight cancellations this morning. These were all Ryan Air flights travelling to Bergerac, Palma de Mallorca, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Berlin and Barcelona. On Saturday a further five flights were cancelled - these were Flybe flights to Belfast, Paris and three more Ryan Air flights to Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and Palma. Although there were 11 flights cancelled across the two days many more flights have been delayed. A spokesman for the airport said: "Obviously the cancellations have had a knock on effect and many flights have been delayed. "But for today the weather situation has slightly lifted and this has allowed to re-open the runways. "If people are flying today it is still advisable to check with their airline for flight information." EAST Midlands Airport is now open. Despite heavy overnight snowfall which forced the airport to close this morning and six flights to be cancelled, the runways were declared open 1pm. There have been six flight cancellations this morning. These were all Ryan Air flights travelling to Bergerac, Palma de Mallorca, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Berlin and Barcelona. On Saturday a further five flights were cancelled - these were Flybe flights to Belfast, Paris and three more Ryan Air flights to Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and Palma. Although there were 11 flights cancelled across the two days many more flights have been delayed. A spokesman for the airport said: "Obviously the cancellations have had a knock on effect and many flights have been delayed. "But for today the weather situation has slightly lifted and this has allowed to re-open the runways. "If people are flying today it is still advisable to check with their airline for flight information." Nottingham City Transport said at 1.30pm that all services are back to normal, except for two diversions. They are: Navy Line 2 is not serving Summerwood Lane and will terminate at Holy Trinity Lime Line 58 is running normal route from Killisick towards the City Centre. Buses from the City will run as normal to Arnold Town Centre, then Coppice Road and Beechwood Road to Killisick. Customers travelling to Homefield Avenue and Surgeys Lane can stay on the bus at Killisick and get off on the route back to City.

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Clik here to view. Updated: East Mids Airport - now open

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House fire in Cotgrave

March 24, 2013, 8:23 am
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FIREFIGHTERS were called to a house fire in Cotgrave on Saturday. Crews from West Bridgford fire station attended the blaze in Woodland Close at around 7.30pm. They spent around half an hour putting out the flames, and no one is thought to have been injured in the incident.
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Volunteers required to clear snow at Mansfield Town

March 24, 2013, 8:42 am
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MANSFIELD Town's Head Groundsman Michael Merriman has issued a fresh appeal for volunteers as efforts to clear the snow from the pitch and surrounding areas begin in earnest on Monday.
Willing volunteers are asked to bring sweeping brushes and wheelbarrows for a 9.15am start at One Call Stadium tomorrow morning.
Over four inches of snow currently covers the pitch, which along with public safety concerns, led to the postponement of yesterday's home game to Macclesfield Town.
Stags are scheduled to face Nuneaton Town at home this Tuesday (7.45pm).
Meanwhile, Mansfield's reserve match away at Gateshead, set to take place tomorrow, has also fallen victim to the weather.
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North Notts "one of the best places for golf"

March 24, 2013, 8:53 am
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NORTH Notts has been named by a national newspaper as one of the best places for golf fanatics to live.
The Sunday Times - which last week named Bingham as one of the best places to live in the Midlands - said the county's sandy soil meant there were "half dozen cracking heathland courses" in the area.
It said these clubs included Lindrick in Worksop, Notts (Hollinwell) in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, and Sherwood Forest in Mansfield. Other places on the list included St Andrews in Fife, Sandwich in Kent, and Ascot in Berkshire.
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Notts Olympic champ Becky Adlington gets engaged

March 24, 2013, 10:05 am
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Double Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington has got engaged to her boyfriend, swimmer Harry Needs. He Tweeted "Popped the big question to the wifey @BeckAdlington & were now #engaged #shesaidyes happiest man on earth", and she then Tweeted "Had the best weekend ever!!! Thank you @Harryneeds for making me the happiest person ever right now #engaged#isaidyes".
Becky, from Mansfield, announced her retirement from competitive swimming last month at the age of 23. 


 

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Clik here to view. Notts Olympic champ Becky Adlington gets engaged

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Warning from Notts County Council over scare-tactic e-mail scam

March 24, 2013, 11:33 am
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A WARNING has gone out to residents about e-mail scams after Trading Standards officers at Notts County Council recently received an increased number of complaints. The e-mails plead for money from accounts belonging to a friend or family member. Scammers are using technology to predict people's passwords so they can hack into e-mail accounts and send out messages to contacts in their directory. Messages tend to outline a sad story, such as them being robbed while on holiday, as a basis for asking for money to be transferred over. The scammer then attempts to convince the receiver to pay money, typically via payment methods that are hard to trace, such as Moneygram or Western Union. The county council advises that a minimum of 10 characters are used in passwords, with a combination of numbers, letters and symbols. For more information, contact Citizens Advice consumer helpline on tel: 08454 040506

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Clik here to view. Warning from Notts County Council over scare-tactic e-mail scam

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Fans brave the snow to hail Nottingham Panthers as champs

March 25, 2013, 12:33 am
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HARDENED fans of the country's best ice hockey team braved sleet and snow to watch the Panthers players raise the championship cup on the balcony of the council house on Saturday.

Arriving on a yellow double-decker bus for a civic reception, the players stepped out onto a snowy Old Market Square to be greeted by a roar of applause from more than 100 fans who had gathered there.

The team brought with them the silverware they have fought so desperately to win – the Elite League Championship Cup.

The Panthers have won the Elite League playoffs and the Challenge Cup competition for the last two years in a row, but the league title had eluded them for 57 years.

"It's magic," said 49-year-old fan John Skindzir, of Hyson Green. "It's been one hell of a season, and this is one of the best teams I have ever seen."

After each player raised the cup to cheers from the crowd below, the players, coaches, general manager Gary Moran and a few lucky fans spontaneously invited by the Lord Mayor of Nottingham, Leon Unczur, went inside the Council House.

Mr Unczur said: "It is with great pride that I can say we have the best ice hockey team in the country. This team plays such a big part in the life of the city."

Mr Moran said it was an honour for his team to be recognised: "The Panthers is an escape from people's work, problems, worries and anxieties."

Fan Maria Demkiw, 59, of Bakersfield, said: "I've been to see home and away games this season, and it has just been fantastic, I'll never forget it. I'm so pleased Mr Unczur invited me in to the ceremony - I've had my photo taken with some of the players."

Doug "Tex" Winson, 73, of Edwards Lane, Sherwood, said: "The old faithful are still here despite the snow, this really has been the best season for years and I have been supporting the panthers since I was 17 years old."

Player Robert Lakowicz said: "There has been such a great buzz in the changing room this season.

"Normally the team has a bit of dip around Christmas, but that just hasn't happened this time and we've kept up the energy all the way through."

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Clik here to view. Fans brave the snow to hail Nottingham Panthers as champs

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Big freeze leaves sunseekers from Nottingham not hot but bothered at East Midlands Airport

March 25, 2013, 12:44 am
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THE weather in the Canary Islands was a balmy 20 degrees Celsius – or 68 degrees Fahrenheit – yesterday. But that only made it worse for the hundreds of passengers left stranded at East Midlands Airport. With 19cm (nearly eight inches) of snow falling in Notts across the weekend, the airport wasn't the only place affected by the bad weather - but it was one of the hardest hit. John and Joan Fritchley, both 52 and from Nottingham, saw their 6.45am flight to Fuerteventura cancelled. John said: "We were here at 3.40am and we had to wait until noon. We asked if we could change to the Birmingham flight as soon as we got here – before they cancelled – but they told us to wait, and now it's too late." Joan added: "Our 12-day holiday looks like it could be cut down to eight days." Nicky Brown, 45, her husband Glyn, 53, and their son Alex, 10, from Nottingham, had also been due to fly out to Fuerteventura with Ryanair. Nicky said: "This is the first time we've had to cancel and it's been a dreadful experience. Nobody wants to help, and the holiday is ruined." In total, 11 flights were cancelled across the weekend. Kayleigh Starbuck, 22, from Nottingham city centre, saw her flight to Milan cancelled yesterday morning. She said: "This is the first time I've gone on holiday abroad. I know what people mean about airports now." Roommate Natalie Dickson, 25, added: "We are going on a trip to a few cities, and not getting to Milan today means we'll miss our flights to Prague and Paris as well." "It's really frustrating – I don't know why they bothered to check us in. They must have known by the weather that it was going to be cancelled. "This time last year I was having a barbecue at my auntie's house. You'd think it'd be safe to book flights for March." Isabelle Giazzi, 68, from Nottingham, was trying to head off to visit family in Italy. She said: "It's chaos. We got here early because we thought there may be problems." Some passengers, including Stephen Pritchard, 50, from Barnsley, complained that bags from cancelled flights had been left out in the snow for people to collect, saying it was "appalling". No-one from the airport was available to comment on that claim. The runways were reopened at noon, and a spokesman said: "Obviously the cancellations have had a knock on effect and many flights have been delayed." Elsewhere there was disruption to bus services, although most city routes were running normally by noon yesterday; and yesterday's Nottinghamshire Motorcycle Charity Easter Egg Run was cancelled. Farmers continue to be hit by the weather. Keith Wallbank, 42, whose family has been farming dairy cows in Langley Mill for more than 40 years, said: "A year ago yesterday I was turning cattle away for grazing in the summer. "This year we're nowhere near that, I've had to buy 500 bails to keep them inside for another 30 days."The farming industry is being hit harder than ever and this weather is just another thing which is crippling us. This job is becoming more and more unviable."

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Clik here to view. Big freeze leaves sunseekers from Nottingham not hot but bothered at East Midlands Airport

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Tweets reveal Olympic champion Becky Adlington is engaged

March 25, 2013, 12:47 am
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DOUBLE Olympic champion Becky Adlington is celebrating again – but this time her happy tweeting is about a ring, not a medal. Twenty-four-year-old Becky told her 323,000 Twitter followers yesterday afternoon that her long-term boyfriend Harry Needs had proposed. She told the Post that the proposal was out of the blue. She said: "I'm very, very excited. It was a complete surprise, I thought he was at training then he surprised me. No dates or anything yet. We want to enjoy being engaged and the planning process together." And speaking from the family home in Mansfield, Becky's mum Kay said she was extremely happy for her daughter and Harry. She said: "We are over the moon for the pair of them and this is a very happy day. "It has come as quite a big surprise to all of us. The proposal was down to Becky's boyfriend and we didn't know he was going to do it until after he did, which is as it should be. "They've been together for a couple of years now. Harry is someone we all really like and he has become part of the family." She added that they made a great couple. "Harry has fitted in really well with the family right from day one. They get on really well and communicate and are just happy with each other. "It is lovely for us as parents, whether it is a son or a daughter it is just wonderful to see your child happy like this. We love Harry to pieces and he's part of the family." The pair started dating two years ago and Harry joined Becky's swimming club Nova Centurion. Speaking to the Post on a previous occasion, Becky said: "He appreciates the focus I need and the sacrifices I have to make. Harry is just like me, really driven. We got to bed pretty early and rest at the weekends." When asked how Harry proposed, Kay said that was something for Becky to reveal. She added: "They've not decided any dates for the wedding yet or anything, they're just going to enjoy being engaged for now." Harry announced the engagement on Twitter yesterday, saying: "Popped the big question to the wifey @BeckAdlington & were now #engaged #shesaidyes happiest man on earth". Becky responded by Tweeting: "Had the best weekend ever!!! Thank you @Harryneeds for making me the happiest person ever right now #engaged #isaidyes". Becky retired from swimming in February and has since decided to focus on her campaigning work. She won two gold medals at the 2008 Olympic Games in the 400m and 800m, breaking the 19 year-old world record of Janet Evans in the 800m final. She also won bronze in the women's 400m and 800m freestyle at London 2012.

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Clik here to view. Tweets reveal Olympic champion Becky Adlington is engaged

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Nottinghamshire's police and crime chief looks to cut senior officers to save money

March 25, 2013, 12:49 am
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THE Police and Crime Commissioner for Notts has said he wants to cut the number of senior officers to save cash. Paddy Tipping's comments came as new figures showed the force lost more than 300 constables over nine years, but the overall number of sergeants went up. According to figures from a Freedom of Information Act (FOI) request, the number of PCs has been declining steadily since 2003, apart from a small rise between 2007 to 2010. In 2011-12(Apr to Mar) there were 1,691 on the books, down from 2,011 in 2003-04 – a fall of 320. In the same period the number of sergeants grew overall from 350 to 367 – although it is down from a peak of 425 in 2009. Mr Tipping said: "If you look at our comparison against other forces you find that the overall profile is more or less the same as most other forces. "But reducing the number of senior officers overall is something I've been discussing with the chief constable. "Although the number of chief superintendents has come down, as the budget tightens we've got to look at the hierarchy of the force." The same figures , from a response to an FOI request the force published on its website, also show there has only been a small increase in the number of staff and officers from ethnic minorities. In 2004, 3.4 per cent of the officers and staff were from an ethnic minority background. By 2012, this had risen by one per cent. As part of a recruitment drive also designed to employ 150 new constables this year, the force has been running 'positive action' public events designed to encourage more applicants from under-represented groups, such as people from black and Asian backgrounds. Mr Tipping said about seven per cent of applicants for the new jobs were from these backgrounds, which is the highest of any recruitment drive run by the force. In the city, about 35 per cent of the population are classed as coming from an ethnic minority background, and in the county it is about eight per cent. Phil Matthews, chairman of the Notts branch of the Police Federation, said: "We've had to make savings and there was a push to do that from around 2000. "We were quite good at that and shaving off the edges but we've had big budget cuts from the Government since. "Despite the recruitment drive, I'm concerned that police constable numbers will stay the same because of officers leaving the force." The force is trying to save about £43m due to Government cuts. Stations have been sold and in 2011 the force used the "A19" rule to force more than 100 officers to retire in a move subject to an employment tribunal brought by the Federation.

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Clik here to view. Nottinghamshire’s police and crime chief looks to cut senior officers to save money

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Street party as Beeston road shuts for work to extend tram network

March 25, 2013, 12:51 am
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MILLIONS of journeys will be diverted in Beeston as a road closes today for work to extend Nottingham's tram network. Chilwell Road will be closed to traffic for 12 months while the work takes place. And with county council figures showing 12,700 journeys are made down the road every day on average, it will mean 4,635,500 journeys will have to be diverted. Matt Goold, 39, of Meadow Lane, is organising a street party in the road on Saturday. 30to show off what the street has. He said: "I've been speaking to a lot of traders down there while organising the party and there is a lot of concern and anxiety among many about what the road will be like in a year's time. "But there's a lot of loyalty in Beeston and people here support independent shops. "And the street party is really a chance to show off what we have here." The event, between 11am and 4pm, will include street entertainment, face-painting and an outdoor stage for bands. The entertainment will also continue into the evening at the Hop Pole pub with live music. Stephanie Wilkinson, of the Beeston Business Improvement District (BID), said: "Businesses along Chilwell Road and High Road want to emphasise to their customers that they are still very much open during the next 12 months. "Although access to the area will change, the shops and businesses are looking at it as a 'temporary pedestrianisation' of parts of Chilwell Road and High Road." Chilwell Road will be closed to through traffic for a year in total – six months each for two different sections – but will remain open for pedestrians and escorted deliveries to businesses. First it shuts from Middle Street and Ellis Grove until October. Chilwell Road and High Road, Chilwell, will then close between Ellis Grove and Holly Lane, from October until April 2014. Signed diversion routes will operate, and most bus services will travel along diversion routes. A free half-hourly Chilwell Road Shoplink bus will be introduced on a trial basis to serve Beeston's independent shopping quarter in Chilwell Road and High Road. The service will run from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday, between Beeston Bus Station and a new temporary bus terminus in Holly Lane. It will travel along Station Road, Queen's Road (west), Meadow Lane, High Road to Holly Lane (and vice-versa), serving all bus stops on its route. City councillor Jane Urquhart said: "We have been working closely with the county council, Broxtowe Borough Council, Beeston BID and the Chilwell Road and High Road traders to devise a works programme that ensures the tram works can be completed as quickly and safely as possible, and enables people to access Beeston town centre and the independent shopping quarter on Chilwell Road."

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Clik here to view. Street party as Beeston road shuts for work to extend tram network

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Fans brave the snow to hail Nottingham Panthers as champs

March 25, 2013, 12:53 am
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HARDENED fans of the country's best ice hockey team braved sleet and snow to watch the Panthers players raise the championship cup on the balcony of the council house on Saturday. Arriving on a yellow double-decker bus for a civic reception, the players stepped out onto a snowy Old Market Square to be greeted by a roar of applause from more than 100 fans who had gathered there. The team brought with them the silverware they have fought so desperately to win – the Elite League Championship Cup. The Panthers have won the Elite League playoffs and the Challenge Cup competition for the last two years in a row, but the league title had eluded them for 57 years. "It's magic," said 49-year-old fan John Skindzir, of Hyson Green. "It's been one hell of a season, and this is one of the best teams I have ever seen." After each player raised the cup to cheers from the crowd below, the players, coaches, general manager Gary Moran and a few lucky fans spontaneously invited by the Lord Mayor of Nottingham, Leon Unczur, went inside the Council House. Mr Unczur said: "It is with great pride that I can say we have the best ice hockey team in the country. This team plays such a big part in the life of the city." Mr Moran said it was an honour for his team to be recognised: "The Panthers is an escape from people's work, problems, worries and anxieties." "It says versus on the ticket it does not say beating, but that is exactly what the coaches and players try and do every week. "However we always remember the saying 'don't get too high with the highs, and don't get too low with the lows'," he said. Fan Maria Demkiw, 59, of Bakersfield, said: "I've been to see home and away games this season, and it has just been fantastic, I'll never forget it. I'm so pleased Mr Unczur invited me in to the ceremony - I've had my photo taken with some of the players." Doug "Tex" Winson, 73, of Edwards Lane, Sherwood, said: "The old faithful are still here despite the snow, this really has been the best season for years and I have been supporting the panthers since I was 17 years old." Player Robert Lakowicz said: "There has been such a great buzz in the changing room this season. "Normally the team has a bit of dip around Christmas, but that just hasn't happened this time and we've kept up the energy all the way through."

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Clik here to view. Fans brave the snow to hail Nottingham Panthers as champs

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Notts County: Weekend hero Bart spent Friday night in QMC at bedside of sick daughter

March 25, 2013, 12:56 am
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NOTTS County hero Bartosz Bialkowski has revealed he almost didn't play at Swindon Town. The Pole spent a sleepless Friday night in the Queen's Medical Centre at the bedside of his baby daughter Nadia, after she was rushed to the hospital with a fever. He was worried sick when she fell ill, with her temperature rising as high as 42 degrees Celsius. And he only decided to link up with his team-mates for the League One clash with the Robins after doctors told him the three-year-old was stable and could go home on Saturday morning. He then slept on the team bus and after being woken up at the County Ground he produced his best performance for the club, making seven super saves to deny Swindon in a 0-0 draw. "I was close to not playing," he said. "I was up all night and I didn't want to leave my family, but my daughter was absolutely fine in the morning so I said to Pilks (goalkeeping coach Kevin Pilkington) 'I will see you on the bus'." Bialkowski's best saves were in the second half as he deflected a powerful strike from Swindon sub James Collins over the crossbar with his legs and tipped a point-blank header from Adam Rooney onto a post. "I thought he (Collins) had beat me so I just left my leg there and fortunately the ball came off it and went over," he added. "I think the one from the header from close range, when I put it onto the post, was the better save. "I think it was my best game for the club so I'm really pleased, it's a fantastic feeling for me. "I felt unbeatable, I kept saying to them 'go on, try and beat me because I'm unbeatable' I was so confident." The Magpies are still in 11th place in League One and six points outside the play-offs with six games left now. "I think it's a good point for us," said Bialkowski. "We did really well defensively. "We were solid and everyone put their bodies on the line."

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Clik here to view. Notts County: Weekend hero Bart spent Friday night in QMC at bedside of sick daughter

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Defensive resolve can be catalyst for continued success at Nottingham Forest, says Elliott Ward

March 25, 2013, 12:57 am
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ELLIOTT Ward believes Nottingham Forest's new-found defensive resilience can be the fulcrum for their continued climb up the Championship table. The Reds have conceded only four goals in seven games under Billy Davies and have kept three clean sheets in that time. And defender Ward says the back four – and keeper Karl Darlow – are growing in confidence all the time. Darlow, 22, has quickly established himself in the first team, after replacing Lee Camp as the Reds' first-choice stopper. "It is nice to keep clean sheets, it looks good for the team and for the back four. It is also good for Karl, because it breeds confidence for everyone in the team when you keep a clean sheet," he said. "Karl is growing in confidence in every game, he has kept three clean sheets and hopefully we can help him to keep a few more. "He has had a few quiet games but, when he is needed, when he has been called upon, he has done a good job. He has made some good saves. "It works both ways, he needs to have confidence and we need to have confidence in him. We need to win headers and he comes for crosses. He has been brilliant at that, particularly at Sheffield Wednesday." Ward believes the entire Reds team deserve credit for their solidity at the back. "We are limiting teams to a few chances in matches, but that is because, as a team, we are working so hard. We are pressing from the front, we work hard to close down. The opposition just are not getting as many chances, because we do not give them the room or time on the ball. "We are doing okay at the minute, we are keeping things tight. But we need to carry on, we need to keep working hard." York City have had a bid for Forest's Jonathan Greening turned down. The 34-year-old midfielder is a former player at Bootham Crescent and left the club for Manchester United in a £500,000 deal in 1998.

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Clik here to view. Defensive resolve can be catalyst for continued success at Nottingham Forest, says Elliott Ward

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Notts County: The magnificent seven of keeper Bart after sleepless night

March 25, 2013, 1:00 am
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HE WAS, quite simply, a Pole apart. Bartosz Bialkowski was the hero for Notts County in a 0-0 draw at Swindon Town in League One and, even more amazingly, he produced his best performance for the club this season after a spending a sleepless and frightening Friday night in the Queen's Medical Centre with his baby daughter. She had a dangerously high temperature and it was only after she was stable on Saturday morning that the Magpies' No.1 decided to go to sub-zero Swindon. The trip felt more like an expedition to the South Pole and it is a good job Bialkowski was there because the young goalkeeper was in top form at the County Ground, making super save after super save to almost single-handedly deny the Robins. He has produced some fine performances since joining Notts at the start of this season and this was the best of them all. He looked unbeatable. His two best saves came in the space of 11 minutes in the second half. Both times the Robins looked certain to finally break the deadlock, and the Magpies' hearts, but Bialkowski refused to be beaten. First he tipped a point-blank range header from Swindon striker Adam Rooney onto his left-hand post on 76 minutes and then blocked a powerful shot from sub James Collins from inside the penalty area with his right leg and deflected the ball over the crossbar on 87 minutes. As belief coursed through his veins, more and more with every save, there was disbelief at his heroics flowing throughout the stadium. There was more too; five more saves, to be precise, as Bialkowski's hands were kept warm on a cold, cold day in Wiltshire. He was tested for the first time on 34 minutes as Swindon winger Gary Roberts fed the ball to the Robins' raiding forward right-back Nathan Thompson, who unleashed a fierce shot at goal from inside the penalty area that Bialkowski palmed away at his near post. The Pole made a second good save just four minutes later. This time, he dived at full stretch to his right to stop a low stinging shot from midfielder Tommy Miller, who rifled the ball at goal from 20 yards from a short free-kick. Save number three came in the opening minutes of the second half, Swindon central midfielder Simon Ferry rising to meet a right-wing cross into the box by Andy Williams and directing a header at goal from eight yards that Bialkowski held low down. Number four was on 57 minutes as he dived to his left and acrobatically tipped a dipping shot from Swindon sub Louis Thompson over the bar and, after denying Rooney and Collins, his seventh and final act of defiance was to stop a powerful downward close-range header from defender Darren Ward from a corner on the goalline. Together his saves were the 'magnificent seven' and they were, all of them, a joy to see. Talk about being in the zone. It was Bialkowski at his very, very best. He was not altogether alone in his impressive performance, oh no. In front of him, the Magpies' defence was outstanding. Julian Kelly, on his return from a calf injury, made two vital clearances from inside the penalty area, Dean Leacock and Gary Liddle were rocks at the heart of the back-four and Alan Sheehan made an extraordinary block to stop Collins scoring in the second half. It was his first return to the County Ground since he left Swindon to join Notts almost two years ago and, while he will want to forget a first-half free-kick that ended up closer to the corner flag than the goal that sparked ironic cheers from the home fans, the Irishman will happily relive the moment he threw himself in front of Collins' shot and deflected the ball over the bar. It came after Bialkowski had tipped Rooney's header onto the post. The rebound fell invitingly to Collins, who had the goal at his mercy, but Sheehan came from nowhere to deny him and silence the booing. Others did well too. Teenager Greg Tempest made his full League debut on the left side of the Magpies' midfield and gave everyone a glimpse of his promise with a confident performance, while the likes of Alan Judge, Jeff Hughes and captain Neal Bishop were driving forces, as always. Judge and Bishop also both threatened to score in the second half. Bishop's chance was on 64 minutes as Enoch Showunmi laid the ball off to him inside the penalty area and he rifled it first time at goal, but it was blocked, and Judge's opportunity was just five minutes later. Sub Yoann Arquin squared the ball to him 25 yards out and he promptly struck a curling shot at goal, forcing Swindon goalkeeper Wes Foderingham to tip the ball over the crossbar. That was the first save Foderingham had to make, however, which tells the story once again of the Magpies' lack of firepower, which is becoming a boring topic now. It was from the subsequent corner that Notts went closest to scoring. Judge swung the flag-kick into the box and Showunmi headed the ball at goal from close range that looked like it was going in, but Andy Williams was stationed on the goalline and he headed it up and against the underside of the crossbar and the Robins hacked it clear. The Magpies came so close to a classic smash-and-grab win that would have put them just four points outside the play-offs with six games to go, but then they also came close to losing quite heavily too. They would have done if it wasn't for Bialkowski, who surely slept all the way home.

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Clik here to view. Notts County: The magnificent seven of keeper Bart after sleepless night

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Kenny Burns: San Marino are as laughable as Rio Ferdinand

March 25, 2013, 1:02 am
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ENGLAND face Montenegro tomorrow night and it will be a far tougher test than San Marino posed. But, even so, a country like England should still sweep them aside in their World Cup qualifier. But 8-0 against San Marino? It's a joke really that they are allowed to take part. It is not a competitive game, it is just a waste of everybody's time. San Marino should have to go through their own qualifying system with other minnows, then the winner gets the chance to compete in the usual qualifiers. They are there simply as the whipping boys and for other countries to rattle up their goal tallies. I mean, I bet Ilkeston, Eastwood and Carlton would give them a good game. But while England were ensuring they did a professional job, Rio Ferdinand was doing some punditry in Qatar. What lunacy. After all the John Terry racism scandal involving his brother Anton Ferdinand and then the spat with England team-mate Ashley Cole, Ferdinand finally got the recall into the international set-up. It was the one he had so craved, by all accounts. Yet he gets into the squad, then withdraws because of a strict fitness programme and flies half the way around the world. Well that's not going to you any good. Maybe playing two games in quick succession is not possible anymore but I doubt he would have played in San Marino. He would have been saved for tomorrow against Montenegro. It is a disgrace and an insult to every England fan and although he has to keep his counsel, you can tell boss Roy Hodgson is livid. And so he should be. What needs to be done now is make sure Ferdinand is never allowed to play for his country again. This should spell the end of his international career.

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Clik here to view. Kenny Burns: San Marino are as laughable as Rio Ferdinand

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Kenny Burns: There's no need to panic if Nottingham Forest don't add to their squad

March 25, 2013, 1:04 am
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SHOULD Nottingham Forest bring in a player on loan before the deadline on Thursday? That's the question a lot of fans will be asking but personally, I don't think it matters if Billy Davies does not act in the next few days. The injury to Henri Lansbury on international duty will be assessed and that might force the manager's hand. And if he was to bring somebody in, it would have to be a player of real significance, a right winger who can terrorise defences. But while that is the only area the Reds might look at, it is not a necessity and I would not be crying if they did not land a winger. And that is because we have seen in the last few weeks that Forest have enough in the tank already to have a strong finish. Davies has come in and the players were already there at his disposal, they just needed a manager who could get the best out of them. Six successive wins following a draw since Davies took over tells you they are good enough. At the back, there are options, in midfield, he has an abundance of riches and up front you have players like Billy Sharp who is no longer getting a regular starting berth. Just look at that bench and you can see the quality, with more sitting in the stands. There is no need for playing square pegs in round holes, as we heard so much of during Davies's first time in charge. And that is why we don't need to panic if nothing happens in the coming days. The players have had a nice break to refresh the mind and body, Davies has been over to Kuwait with the owners to get some sun on his back so when they head into training today, there will be a real buzz about the place. It is obvious the spirit in the camp is second to none and eight games to go, the Reds have to look to replicate the form from before the break and hunt down second spot. That starts this Saturday with Brighton and once again, I expect to see a similar line-up to previous matches. There has been no need to change it, it isn't broke after all so there is no reason for the manager to meddle with a winning formula, apart from who should replace Lansbury if he fails to recover and that will most probably be Lewis McGugan, who has scored three goals from his last three substitute appearances. The Seagulls are just one point behind the Reds so the big thing about the weekend is firstly, do not lose. That does not mean go out and play for a draw. Far from it. What I mean is stay switched on and strong at the back to get that clean sheet. They have to be positive on the ball and take the game to their opponents. The Reds are the form side, so let Brighton do the worrying. It is about individuals winning their personal battles and that is what Davies has got them doing so well. That has been key to this winning run and with a chance to equal that record which stretches back more than 90 years, of seven straight victories, Forest should be more that confident. To do that, they don't need new personnel. If a player that adds quality and brings something else to the table comes in, then great. I'm all for that. But unlike in other seasons when this loan window was about to shut, if nothing happens down at the City Ground, I will not be concerned.

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Clik here to view. Kenny Burns: There’s no need to panic if Nottingham Forest don’t add to their squad

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Mansfield Town now have to beat the elements, as well as their rivals, to land title

March 25, 2013, 1:08 am
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IT WAS the rain in midweek and by the weekend, it was snow that was wreaking havoc with Mansfield Town's promotion charge. The bus was turned around near Stoke when the game at Wrexham was called off and then on Saturday, the heavy snowfall meant there wasn't a chance Mansfield's game would go ahead against Macclesfield. An earlier call for supporters to come and clear the pitch was called off as an overnight downpour left more than five inches of the white stuff on the frost covers and in the stands. But while the Stags endured another day of no action, elsewhere Kidderminster were moving three points clear at the top with a ninth successive win. The Stags have three games in hand and are two points ahead of Wrexham, with a game in hand, and to play them twice. It is still in their hands and with Newport losing again on Saturday, the title chase, realistically, has been narrowed down to three teams. But with the snow going nowhere and temperatures barely expected to rise above zero in the next couple of days, tomorrow night's home match with Nuneaton remains a major doubt. And that is the problem. With the league due to end on April 20 and no word yet on an extension, the Stags have to fit them in. They face an Easter Monday game and a trip to Wrexham on the Thursday, sandwiched between two weekend matches and they now have to factor in a game with Macclesfield on a Thursday evening. It will be relentless but, given the set-up of the team, manager Paul Cox now has like for like replacements when he has to rotate his team. In the hole, Ben Hutchinson can replace Lee Stevenson, in the middle of the park he has Adam Chapman, Adam Murray, Anthony Howell and Chris Clements all vying for two spots. He has central defenders in abundance and Ritchie Sutton and John Thompson to slip in to the full-back roles, not to mention winger Colin Daniel who can also play left-back. All have played a part this season and if called upon, they should find it easy to fit into the 4-4-1-1 set-up that has seen them win 13 of their last 14 Blue Square Bet Premier matches. Should tomorrow night's game succumb to the weather, it will be a head scratcher for Cox and his players. But, Kidderminster aside, Wrexham have a similar backlog, as do many others in the league. Since the turn of the year, the Stags have proved that two games a week suits them fine, hence the stunning run. Now they have to prove they are capable of playing three to four matches a week during the run-in if they are to nail down top spot and the league title.

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Clik here to view. Mansfield Town now have to beat the elements, as well as their rivals, to land title

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Bravery award for pint-sized Notts PC who tackled knife killer

March 25, 2013, 1:30 am
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A POLICE officer has won a bravery award for chasing down and arresting a 6ft-plus knife murderer. PC Helen Burdett, who is only 5ft 2in, was among officers who rushed to a flat in Hyson Green after reports of a break-in. Inside she found a group of people who said they had been attacked by knifeman Gary Cooper, who had fled the scene. Cooper's one-time friend Mark Calpin lay dying from knife wounds. PC Burdett, 43, was helping another injured man outside the house when Cooper emerged from the shadows. He fled when the officer challenged him, but she gave chase. PC Burdett, a grandmother-of-one, said: "I thought if he got away he could stab someone else. The risks didn't enter my mind." She caught the killer and tackled him to the ground. She has now been given a commendation by Notts Chief Constable Chris Eyre
Cop chased 6ft man after horrific killingNotts Police officers and members of the public have been honoured for their bravery at an awards ceremony. Crime Correspondent Chris Breese spoke to one officer who risked her life to catch a killer. LATE on a gloomy Bonfire Night in 2011, police were called to what was reported as a break-in at a flat in Ashwell Gardens, Hyson Green. Once inside PC Helen Burdett and her colleagues found they had walked into a waking nightmare. After an earlier argument Gary Cooper had broken in through the kitchen window and attacked Mark Calpin with a kitchen knife. Mr Calpin, who had been a friend of Cooper's for 20 years, lay dying with five stab wounds and another man was also hurt and in distress. Cooper, who stood over six feet tall, had fled. PC Burdett helped paramedics tend to Mr Calpin, then took the other man outside to try to calm him down and work out how bad his injuries were. Then a figure emerged from the darkness of the street. PC Burdett said: "I'd taken the other man outside because I didn't want him to see how badly hurt his friend was. "While we were outside, Cooper turned up. He just came out of the shadows. "I recognised him because we'd had dealings with him before over the years. He stood there and I went 'Gary, I need to talk to you', and then he ran." Not knowing whether or not Cooper was still carrying the six-inch knife he had stabbed Mr Calpin with, the 5ft 2in PC gave chase. She added: "My sergeant was still in the house, I just shouted 'he's here'. Cooper stopped when he saw all the emergency vehicles parked further away and we just grabbed him." She and her sergeant, who had heard her shout and joined in the chase, handcuffed Cooper. A paramedic who had seen the commotion sat on his legs. Mr Calpin, 44, was taken to the Queen's Medical Centre but was pronounced dead. In October, Cooper, then 45, who had been staying in Ashwell Gardens with Mr Calpin, pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life with a minimum of 23 years before being considered for parole. PC Burdett, a mother-of-one who recently became a grandmother, was among nearly 80 officers and members of the public presented with Chief Constable's commendations at the Albert Hall, Nottingham. in North Circus Street on Thursday. Her colleague, Sergeant Mark Golds-Jones said: "The way she helped paramedics with the dying man was astounding and her professionalism was humbling. When the suspect was confronted she chased him, showing bravery of the highest order." Chief Constable Chris Eyre said: "We are fortunate to have a force made up of so many dedicated and talented individuals, people who know that one day they could be asked to put themselves in harm's way. They accept that and, when the time comes, they just do it. "All of our award recipients have my thanks, but more importantly the thanks, praise and admiration of all law abiding people across Nottinghamshire."

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Clik here to view. Bravery award for pint-sized Notts PC who tackled knife killer

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Nottingham Forest trio honoured at Football League Awards

March 25, 2013, 1:41 am
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NOTTINGHAM Forest players past, present and future were honoured at the Football League Awards 2013 last night. Simon Cox, Peter Shilton and Dimitar Evtimov picked up gongs on a night where a total of 17 awards were given out, with 34 clubs shortlisted for honours. Reds striker Cox won the Mitre Goal of the Year Award for his superb goal against Birmingham City at the City Ground last September. Cox's deft touch and first time hit past the goalkeeper was voted as the best goal in 2012 from a final shortlist of five. During 2012, more than 5,000 goals were scored in Football League competitions. To find the best, each Football League club was asked to nominate their club's best goal from the 2012 calendar year. In conjunction with the presenters and viewers of Sky Sports' Soccer AM these were narrowed down to a shortlist of five contenders with the eventual winner being voted for on the night. David Cox, Simon's father, collected the award on Simon's behalf at the gala ceremony at The Brewery, London, with the Reds ace currently away on duty with the Republic of Ireland. Cox senior said: "I am pleased as punch for him to get this, he is currently on international duty with Ireland but I know he is watching the awards on his laptop to see if he has won. "I am sure there was a big cheer there when it was announced. He will be very pleased and I am happy to pick it up for him, he deserves it." Other notable winners on the night included Watford's Matej Vydra, who walked away with the npower Championship Player of the Year Award. The npower League 1 Player of the Year Award went to AFC Bournemouth's Matt Ritchie, who saw off Notts County's Alan Judge to the award, while the League Two award went to Port Vale's Tom Pope. Former Forest goalkeeper Peter Shilton OBE received the prestigious Contribution to League Football Award. Each year, this prestigious Award is presented by the Board of The Football League to an individual that has given a lifetime's service to the professional game. As the holder of The Football League's all-time appearance record, he is the only player in its 125-year history to play in more than 1,000 league matches. On winning the award Shilton said: "It is certainly up there with all the awards I have won in the past. "I played in the Football League for 30 years and had a fantastic time. The Football League is about real football people who do it for the love of the game and I am really pleased to pick this award up." Greg Clarke, chairman of the Football League, added: "During a glittering career, spanning four decades, Peter Shilton has been an outstanding servant to League football. "As the holder of the Football League's all-time appearance record, Peter has made a huge contribution to the English game and it is a privilege to present him with this Award." Evtimov, meanwhile, was named the LFE Apprentice of the Year for the Championship, with Forest's education officer, Dennis Judson, receiving the award on his behalf. Since his arrival in England, the Bulgaria under-21 international has impressed his club academy, community staff and those from outside the club with his positive attitude and likeable personality. Judson said: "This will mean an awful lot to Dimitar, he has dedicated himself not only to football but to his education too and he is progressing well both on and off the pitch. "He is currently in Bulgaria with the under-21s but winning this will make him so proud."

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Clik here to view. Nottingham Forest trio honoured at Football League Awards

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